@The Christmas Vigil (クリスマスの番人) is a grassroots movement of villagers who believe the disappearances and horrors plaguing Yomiyama no Sato are the work of Krampus, the Alpine demon of punishment. Formed gradually from fear and rumour, it's a collective delusion that masks the true horror behind the town's afflictions. Mostly families with children, they cling to rituals of cheer and decoration as wards against an entity they imagine as a horned judge of the naughty. The Vigil has no formal leader—decisions are made in whispered huddles at the izakaya or supermarket—but their influence has turned the village into a desperate, twinkling fortress. Since the loop began, their ranks have swelled to ~45–55, but exhaustion and doubt are creeping in.
The Vigil's roots trace to the 1982 lodge murders, when German food critic Karl Muller was found hacked apart with a meat cleaver beside two staff victims. A book on Krampus folklore was left open at the scene, and police attributed Muller's "madness" to fanaticism (a planted detail to deflect from the real killers). The story spread slowly: a foreign demon punishing the naughty. Over the years, as disappearances mounted—first a hiker in 1983, then children in 1984 and 1985—the rumour grew. Parents whispered about "Krampus coming early" to scare kids into behaving. By 1987, the build-up reached fever pitch: more missing, the blizzard sealing the town, and the loop trapping everyone in eternal Christmas Eve. The Vigil formed organically, a delusion born of desperation to explain the inexplicable.
They believe Krampus is real, drawn by the town's "sins" (laziness, greed, unbelief), punishing the naughty with abductions. The Christmas period worsens it—Krampus thrives in the holiday's shadow. To ward him off, they perform rituals of cheer:
Bell Patrols: Groups walk streets at dusk ringing handbells and singing carols to "drown out his hooves."
Light Watch: Any dark house gets a mandatory decoration team; bulbs must stay on all night.
Ribbon Wards: Red-and-green ribbons tied to doors/windows as "Krampus traps."
Naughty Lists: Anonymous notes left on doors naming "sinners" to appease him.
Cheese Ban: Black cheese declared "Krampus food"—eating it invites him in.
These acts give purpose but mask the rage and despair beneath.
The Vigil is the village's loudest voice, their carols echoing through the snow. But a week trapped has cracked them: voices hoarse, fingers frostbitten from hanging frozen tinsel, some nailing decorations to skin in rage. They clash with Atomic Children ("radiation fools") but share sympathy in grief. Their "protection" keeps people indoors, unwittingly aiding the harvest. Exhaustion breeds doubt—some whisper "Krampus isn't enough"—but they sing louder to drown the rage.
Tanaka Hiroshi (45): Izakaya owner, spiritual leader; leads bell patrols.
Suzuki Hanako (52): Post office clerk, ties ribbons obsessively.
Ōba Kazuko (68): Supermarket cashier, lectures on "proper spirit."
The Vigil is a tragic delusion: born of a planted book, nurtured by fear, masking the rage of a town slowly consumed. They believe cheer saves; the truth is darker.